‘A stitch in time saves nine,’ the ancient saying goes, and it can be equally applied to the garden as well as holey socks.
Maintenance when needed will save extra work later on, we all know that in our heart of hearts.
And tempting though it may be to curl up in front of the fire and read a decent book at this time of year there is still loads of work to be done.
So here are ten top gardening tools to keep your garden tidy and be ready for the first flush of Spring growth next year.
Leaves are a real nuisance at the moment and this little device will keep lawns and paths and drives leaf free with the minimum of effort.
Easy to use, the MD Handy Push Lawn & Leaf Sweeper (Code THPLS) has sweeping brushes which revolve five times for each revolution of the wheels.
The sweeping height is adjusted so as well as clearing lawns it can deal with gravel drives, Taramc drives and concrete patios.
And it can deal sweep up twigs and other debris as well as leaves.
It also has industrial uses as it can be sued for clearing barns and warehouses.
The sweeping width is 66cm and the catcher at the back, which holds 200 litres, is very easy to unhitch and empty.
It costs £125, over £60 off the recommended price, is delivered free the next working day and has a one year warranty.
This leaf blower is new and exclusive to us this year and has been exciting us for some time – well we did help in its development.
The Redback E435C Cordless Leaf-Blower (Tool Only) uses the latest batteries developed in Japan to deliver a powerful blast of air to clear leaves – just see the video we made the other day.
The lithium-ion batteries retain their charge and the machine has four speed settings with enough power to clear thickly matted leaves.
It weighs only 2.5kg, excluding the battery.
At £89 it is £30 off the recommended price, has a three-year warranty and is delivered free of charge the next working day.
If you have a large lawn then this machine could be the answer to leaf clearing.
The Agri-Fab Smart-Sweep 44″ Towed Lawn & Leaf Sweeper (45-0492) attaches via a pin hitch to virtually any make of lawn tractor anf with a sweeping width of 112cm can clear large areas very quickly.
It has also been designed so it will not ‘skip’ when being towed so you won’t have to return to areas you’ve missed.
The catcher at the back holds 710 litres so you can sweep larger areas without stopping to empty.
It costs £369, £90 off the recommended price and has a three-year warranty. We deliver it free the next working day
Billy Goat manufacturers some of the world’s leading industrial vacs and their machinery is in great demand at this time of the year as it is brilliant at clearing large areas of leaves.
The Billy Goat MV650H Multi Vac Outdoor Vacuum (Push) is their latest offering and has terrific suction to deal with all manner of debris.
A Honda 6.l5hp engine provides the suction power and it is fitted with a six-bladed impellor to deal with leaves, hedge clippings paper litter and even broken glass.
And with a suction width of 73.5cm it can take on really large cleaning jobs – like dealing with the mess after a summer party or festival.
It also has an intake nozzle which adjusts to accommodate debris up to five inches wide and can be adjusted to clear gravel drives while leaving the stones untouched.
The costs is £1849.99, £130 off the recommended price and it has a one-year warranty with free delivery the next working day.
Now another machine new and exclusive to use at MowDirect and another which relies on battery power.
The Einhell GE-SC 35LI Power X-Change Cordless Scarifier has 16 steel blades to tease out dead grass, flat-growing weeds and moss to leave the lawn healthy and vibrant – remember that grass grows virtually throughout the year.
This allows nutrients and moisture to penetrate to the roots of the plant and keeps it healthy – after all, we all like a drink and something to eat and the lawn’s no different.
There are three working depths and it has large wheels so as not to damage the surface.
Pus the handle bars are adjustable and the two 3Ah batteries and the charger are supplied.
The price is £169.95, £30 off that recommended, we deliver it free the next working day ad there is a two-year warranty.
You’ll find those hidden and scruffy areas of the garden – and yes, we’ve all got them – are still sprouting even though it’s well into autumn and this handy device is ideal for keeping them in check.
The Mitox 33L Petrol Brushcutter has a solid drive shaft with the power from a 32.6cc engine.
This is a very easy to handle machine as it weighs only 7.1kg and has a loop handle and shoulder harness.
This makes is easier to reach hidden corners in the garden where a ‘chopper’ style handle would get in the way.
It also has a bump-feed line strimmer for lawn edges and shorter grass.
It costs £139, £70 of the manufacturer’s recommended price and is delivered free the next working day with a two year warranty.
You can turn it into a hedge trimmer with the addition of a articulated hedge trimmer attachment which costs £135.
As we said earlier the grass is still growing and your lawns will look much neater for a light trim all through the year.
Don’t be too drastic, just ‘knock the whiskers off’.
This one from a leading German engineering company is still on special offer.
The Einhell GC-PM 46 S-M Self-Propelled 4-Wheeled Petrol Lawnmower has a 139cc engine and with a powder-coated cutting deck will is made for a long working life.
It is very easy to start and has a 46cm cutting width, ideal for a medium to large lawn. There are nine cutting heights from 30mm to 80mm and it has a50-litre grass box.
A mulch kit is also included but this should only be used in dry conditions and is best saved for the warmer summer days.
It is priced at £199.95, has free next working day delivery and a two-year warranty.
Next, a mower which has been a best seller for some time.
The Mountfield SP533 Self-propelled Petrol Lawn Mower is from a favourite maker and is a wide-cut mower at an excellent price.
With a 160cc engine which is easy to start it can tackle both smooth lawns and rougher areas and it has a 60-litre grass box.
Cutting heights are from 25mm to 90mm and it has large ball bearing mounted wheels.
The cutting deck is powder coated to resist corrosion and a mulch plug is also provided.
The recommended price is £459 but we are selling it for £349 with a three-year maker’s warranty. Delivery is free, and the next working day.
The next mower is from a leading manufacturer in the States.
The Top of Form
Lawnflite LF48-SPBR Self-propelled Rear-Roller Lawn Mower will leave neat parallel stripes – the sort you admire on country gardens.
It has a 161cc Briggs & Stratton engine and is based on an ABS polymer deck to resist the inevitable bumps and corrosion.
Cutting heights are from a very low 15mm up to 65mm and it has a 70-litre grass box.
The rear roller, which leaves the impressive stripes, is split to make turning easier. And with a rear roller mower you can mow right up to the lawn edges.
It costs £399, £30 off the recommended price, has a two-year warranty from Lawnflite and free next working day delivery.
And finally, a best-selling lawn tractor at a great price, and a machine which with the right attachments has its uses all year round.
The Mountfield 1530M Lawn Tractor has an 84cm cutting width and has twin cutting blades to give an excellent finish.
It also develops a strong current of air in the cutting deck to power the clippings into the 240-litre grass box which beeps when it needs emptying – and this can be done from the driver’ seat.
Cutting heights are from 25mm to 80mm.
The engine is Mountfield’s own 452c model designed to be easy to start and with advanced lubrication to give it a longer life. It has six gears – five forward and one reverse and a large fuel tank.
This is a very comfortable tractor to drive with a high-back and padded seat which is adjustable. And thick-tread tyres give excellent grip when it gets soggy.
A mulch plug and rear grass deflector can be bought as optional extras.
Costing £1699, £200 off the recommended price, it has a five-year warranty and is delivered free within two to three working days.
But for an extra fee you can order by 3pm Friday and we will deliver it on the Saturday.
So don’t neglect the garden just because it is winter as work done at this tie of year will bear fruits next Spring.
See our main site for a huge selection of garden machinery and please ring us on 020 3026 8712 if you would like our advice before purchasing.
